US ambassador to China Clark Randt has paid a courtsey call to Hua Mei, the first American born Chinese panda.   

Ambassador Randt visited Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday.

The US diplomat called his trip as an “informal visit” and applauded the achievement of the center, which witnessed the breeding of six pandas last year.

Four-year-old Hua Mei, born in the San Diego Zoo, returned to China last week as part of a Sino-US research program.

(CRI February 20, 2004)